Traffic jams due to long weekend travelers, truckers' go-slow protest over fuel prices
Easter weekend always brings traffic jams on Dutch roads as people take advantage of the long weekend for a getaway. On Thursday morning, a go-slow protest by truck drivers against high fuel prices added to the chaos.
The truckers drove slowly on the A4 and A15 highways, quickly causing traffic jams toward The Hague. The American-Israeli war on Iran has sent fuel prices skyrocketing. The Dutch government is examining possible measures to support struggling households, but has not yet taken any. The truck drivers want the Cabinet to step in by lowering excise duties on fuel, ANP reported.
Infrastructure Minister Vincent Karremans was annoyed by the protest. The VVD Minister told ANP that he understood the truck drivers’ concern, but blocking the highway ahead of a long weekend will not cause him to take measures. He said he does feel responsible for the transport and logistics sector and that the Cabinet is considering what to do.
Road users’ association ANWB warned motorists to expect busy roads this weekend. “The busiest times are Thursday afternoon and Friday afternoon,” the ANWB said. Many people will be heading out for weekends away. Last year, there were over 1,100 kilometers of traffic jams on Dutch roads on the Thursday afternoon before Easter.
On Thursday, ANWB expects long traffic jams on the A1 between Amsterdam and Apeldoorn, the A2 and A27 around Utrecht toward the south, the A50 between Eindhoven and Apeldoorn, and the A73 between Nijmegen and Venlo. The association also warned that German border controls could cause extra traffic in the border region.
On Good Friday, many German tourists will head towards the Dutch coast and the Wadden Islands. Expect traffic on the A12 from the German border toward Utrecht, the roads toward Zeeland, and on the ferry between Den Helder and Texel.
Various events and road works will also add to the delays, the association warned. The ANWB expects congestion around the Keukenhof gardens in Lisse, the Easter races at Zandvoort Circuit, and the Paaspop festival in Schijndel.
